Watching Point 1

1 — WATCH lest you attempt to do anything in Christian Science from any standpoint except that of joy. Our Leader’s hymn admonishes us to follow and rejoice all the rugged way. Work in Christian Science that is done joyously, has a power and effectiveness that work done as a solemn duty never has. If you seem to have lost your joy obey Mrs. Eddy’s command, “If your joy is lost, handle animal magnetism.” If this is properly done, your joy will return, and you can again take up your work. Our Leader once wrote to George Kinter, “Gladness and rejoicing are divine in essence, and their reward is manifold in its effect.”

If you should fall through the ice, you would become further imprisoned if you attempted to swim at once for the shore. The first thing to do is to rise. Then you can clamber onto the surface of the ice and walk to shore. This rising to the surface symbolizes the lightening of thought necessary, in preparation for all effort in Christian Science. “The hope of the righteous shall be gladness.” Prov. 10:28.